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HON. KEVIN RUDD,
M.P., GIVES AFRICA DAY SPEECH
KEVIN RUDD was
invited to speak at the celebrations marking Africa Day, the
anniversary of the founding of the African Union, by the
organisers, La Trobe University’s Centre for Dialogue, in
conjunction with the Africa Day Celebration Committee, the
African Think Tank, and the Universal Peace Federation.
Mr Rudd's speech focussed on the positive change that is
happening in Africa, with a number of 'Lion Economies'
making unprecedented economic progress, and improvements in
democracy in most nations. He discussed
the great strides made by Africa, noting that such [positive
stories get little press attention.
Read the text
of Mr. Rudd's inspiring speech
HERE.
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FOCUS 38 - April 2013
has been added. Zimbabwean independence celebrations,
Majak Daw, Orthodox Church Easter. |
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WWW.ATT.ORG.AU
BACK ONLINE!
For the past twelve
months,
www.att.org.au
has been redirecting to africanthinktank.org.
This site has now returned to its old management and
will be available again at this web address.
The team is working to bring the site up to date
with the many developments that have taken place in
the last twelve months; keep checking back to get
your back issues of Focus, photographs, and news.
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NEW!!!
ORGAN
THEFT IN SINAI - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PLANNED
Refugees crossing Sinai to
Israel are being imprisoned, tortured, and held for
ransom. If no ransom is given, their organs
are crudely removed and they are dropped in a hole
to die. The person below was lucky he lived.
If you call a life of continual pain and severe
disability lucky.
But this trade can be ended. International
agreements have ended it in Philippines, India and
China. Dr. Berhan Ahmed is planning an
international conference to put an end to this evil
trade in the region. Planning is well
advanced. If you can offer funding, or you are
able to attend the conference on a fee-paying basis
(sponsored slots are full), please contact Dr. Ahmed.
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NEW!!!!
DR AHMED INTERVIEWED BY RFI.
Dr.
Berhan Ahmed, Chairperson of the ATT, has been
interviewed by the prestigious Radio France
International. Our good doctor's worldwide
reputation continues to grow and grow, and the
profile of the ATT along with it. Check out
the interview
HERE.
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NEW!!!!
FOCUS 37 , March
2013 added
here
Mozambique minister visits Canberra; Cultural
Diversity Week, Multicultural AFL.
The Site Team is working hard on bringing this site
back to life and up to date. Back issues of
FOCUS will be added as swiftly as possible. |
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FOCUS 28 added.
July 2012
Report on Dr. Ahmed's campaign
for Melbourne by-election
Launching new Australian-African Media
New Generation Project
The African Think Tank Team is working to add
missing copies of FOCUS to our archives and hopes to
add them within the next two months. Apologies
to all our online readers.
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FAMINE
IN EAST AFRICA
On the
20th of July, UNHCR declared a famine in East
Africa. At least 14 million people are
affected, and at least 500,000 children are in
danger of imminent death. The USA has promised
aid, and Australia's Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd,
is there at the moment, assessing need: he has also
promised Australian aid.
The
Somali Women's Development Association is running a
very effective food aid program and has asked us to
host
THIS PAGE where you can donate via credit
card or PayPal.
Warning: Some of the famine images on this page are
distressing.
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FOCUS
SIXTEEN
added.
2011 International Year for
People of African Descent
Race And Reason Report
South Sudanese Celebrations
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FOCUS
FOURTEEN
added.
The way ahead
Addressing the
causes of violence in our community
(note: FOCUS 13
was not distributed due to technical issues) |
19 April 2011 - Two additions
to ARTICLES AND SPEECHES
AFRICAN THINK TANK SUBMISSION
TO JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON MIGRATION 2011-1
REVIEW
AFRICAN THINK TANK RESPONSE TO
PATHWAYS:
city of melbourne homelessness
strategy
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FOCUS TWELVE added.
MULTICULTURALISM IN
AUSTRALIA: OUR NEW GOLD
Educating our
children • Harmony Day
• Cultural Diversity Week
(This issue states
that it is produced with the assistance of EXACT
Publishing, Footscray. In fact this issue was
produced by ATT volunteers. The ATT thanks
EXACT publishing for assistance with the first
eleven issues of FOCUS.)
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FOCUS
ELEVEN
added.
NATIONAL: EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYMENT
INTERNATIONAL: SOUTH SUDAN REFERENDUM
25 January 2001
AUSTRALIA DAY Media Release
added to
Media Releases Section
13 January 2001: AFRICAN THINK
TANK EXPRESSES DISMAY AT QLD FLOODS AND SYMPATHY FOR
VICTIMS
added
to Media
Releases Section
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FOCUS TEN added.
FOCUS ON: WHAT POLICIES WILL WORK WITH REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES |
FOCUS NINE added.
FOCUS ON: VICTORIAN STATE ELECTION 2010 |
WE NEED YOUR ARTICLES!
FOCUS is the most effective way to tell the world
about what your community is doing and what you need
to do even more! Contributions can be sent to
"Russell Jaffe" <rjaffe@tpg.com.au>
Site Update 3 March
2010
New article added to Articles:
Integration Strategies of
Migrants and Refugees
Churchill Fellowship
report by Haileluel Gebre-Selassie - 2008 Churchill
Felllow
Biography added to
Board Members -
biographies section |
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AFRICAN
THINK TANK RELEASES FIRST ISSUE OF AFRICAN
COMMUNITIES E-ZINE
The African Think
Tank is delighted to announce the release of the
first issue of
FOCUS, a
magazine from and for the African Communities.
This is
your
magazine! Use it to tell other communities and
the wider Australian community about news, events,
and opinion in your communities.
FOCUS contains
community news, events, opportunities such as
grants, employment, submissions and training, sports
and arts news and opportunities, and creative
writing by members of the communities. It is
distributed very widely to community members and
leaders, and also reaches decision makers in
government departments, government, NGOs and other
people that make decisions affecting you and your
community. FOCUS is your chance to correct
misunderstandings, respond to media images that may
be incorrect or biased, and tell the world the truth
about the great, vibrant, and dynamic contribution
that Australian-Africans make to our country.
Download
the issue 1 of
FOCUS
here (pdf
format).
24 Feb 2010: updates done to
board members biographies
page. |
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AFRICAN THINK TANK
LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Applications are invited to participate in the ATT's
LEADERSHIP TRAINING COURSE
This very exciting course
will be taught by leaders from the communities,
government, business and NGOs. This is your
chance to find out how to use your talents to really
make a difference!
10 April 2010 to 18 September 2010
12
workshops held fortnightly on Saturdays.
Applications close 12 March. Open to: members of
Australian-African communities. Cost: Sponsorship is
provided.
Contact:
Haileleul Gebre-Selaisse,
Project Manager, ATT: Ph: 0429-009-912.
Email:
africanthinktank@hotmail.com
Brochure is
here.
Application form is
here.
18 Feb
2010 - Two new
speeches added to
articles and speeches page. Two new
media
releases added to
media releases
page.
Board members
biographies
updated. There is lots more new material that
will be added next week - check back.
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MURDER OF INDIAN STUDENT IN
FOOTSCRAY
AUSTRALIA SHOULD WORK AGAINST RACISM, NOT DENY THAT
IT EXISTS
MEDIA RELEASE
HERE |
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AFRICANS UNITE TO
RAISE AID FOR REFUGEES
The African Humanitarian Aid
Festival held in Sunshine on the evening of 27th
December 2009 was an outstanding success. Over
500 people attended, almost double the number
expected. The audience, performers and
representatives came from a wide range of
Australian-African communities, including the
Eritrean, Ethiopian, Sudanese, Somali, Rwandan and
Congolese communities. Substantial funds were
raised to benefit refugees in Africa.
Dr Berhan Ahmed,
Chairperson of the African Think tank, pointed out
that it was not possible to solve the problems of
Africa and in particular the Horn of Africa region
on a country-by-country basis. For example,
assistance could not be given to Eritrean refugees
without the active support and assistance of the
Ethiopian and Sudanese communities. Also, when
assistance was given, it was given to everyone in a
particular camp or area who needed it, no matter
what their background. In addition, although
this festival was the first really large event to
help raise aid in Australia, it was part of an
emerging pattern of co-coordinated aid and
consultation that was being rapidly developed
internationally to try to find assistance and
solutions for the economies in Africa that had been
devastated by famine and war. The success of
this festival would lead to many more such events in
the future.
One of a number of
musicians who came from overseas especially to
support the festival was the famed singer and poet
Hussain Mohammed Ali , who has been singing for peace
since 1975 and is now resident in London. He
said that peace comes from words and actions, never
from bullets. Artists and musicians had to
lead the way in uniting peoples and turning their
hearts towards peace.
The festival was sponsored
by the Eritrean Community in Australia and organised
by Pen & Paper, a charity established to give
educational materials to children in refugee camps,
and Eritrean Australian Humanitarian Aid (EAHA).
More story and pictures
HERE |
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3-12-09 New
Media Release: ATT welcomes findings of
ACMA on inaccurate and biased reporting. |
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The
African Think Tank congratulated President Barack
Obama on winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
In
a letter to the President, Dr. Ahmed said in part:
"
Seldom if ever, has the prize been better bestowed....(Your
career and election as president) gives hope to
people from all over the world and is the
greatest and most undeniable proof to the whole
world that everyone can aspire to greatness, no
matter how humble their origins."
The Media Release is
here on the media page.
There is also another
new media release on the media page about the
need for a Human Rights bill, and another recent
media release which gives the ATT's response to
the about the disasters in Indonesia and Samoa.
The letter congratulating President Obama is
here and on the articles
page.
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AFRICAN
THINK TANK ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
held 23rd September 2009
Dr. Berhan Ahmed returned
unopposed as Chairperson.
Churchill Fellow Mr. Haileleul Gebre-Selaisse
stepped down as deputy chairperson after a period of
distinguished service. the new deputy
chairperson is Mrs. Faten Mohammed. Check the Board
page for changes.
The ATT annual report may
be read HERE
(pdf format).
The
Media Release has
been added to
Media Releases |
23
September 2008: New article added to
articles page
A Proposal for Capacity Building in
the African-Australians in Goulburn Valley: A Case
Study on ‘Co-Learning, Development Enhancement, and
Knowledge Management of ‘Emerging Communities’ in
Rural/Regional Australia
by
Dr. Apollo Nsubuga-Kyobe and Dr.
Sundram Sivamalai |
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Media Release: ATT response
to G20 summit 5 March 09
Media
Release: ATT response to Government Employment
contracts 3 April 09 |
Media Release: Africans Applaud
Governor-General's Visit to Africa added to media releases.
Membership form Added to membership
Board Nomination form added to board members
partial update at March 30 2009 |
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African Australians Celebrate Harmony Day added
to Media releases |
The
African Think Tank conducted a forum on the subject
of
“Maximising the Potential of African Youth:
A Community Model to Bolster Health and Legal
Support”
at Victoria University, Melbourne today. Over
100 people attended and the forum was a great
success.
Initial brief report is
HERE |
| The
Victoria Police Multicultural Advisory Unit has
advertised vacancies for New and Emerging Community
Liaison Officer (NECLO) Positions. The
applications close on 30 March.
A .pdf about the positions is
HERE.
The application form on the
careers Victoria web site is
HERE
(it is not possible to directly link to this job. Search under vacancies with Victoria Police to find the vacancy) |
More Speeches by Haileluel Gebre-selassie added to Articles and Speeches tab |
THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN THINK TANK,DR. BERHAN AHMED, HAS BEEN HONOURED WITH THE AWARD OF 2009 VICTORIAN AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2009.
story and pictures below.
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AFRICAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND MUSICIANS INVITED TO ATTEND SPECIAL DAY FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE BUSHFIRE AND TO THANK THE VOLUNTEERS WHO FOUGHT IT.
SUNDAY, 22nd MARCH, 11.00 – 3.00
DAREBIN COMMUNITY SPORTS STADIUM
857 Plenty Rd Reservoir. |
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African Think Tank Chairperson Dr. Berhan Ahmed with the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and the Deputy Chairperson of the ATT, Mr. Haileleul Gebre-Selassie, iin Canberra. |
The Chairperson of the African Think Tank, Dr. Berhan Ahmed, was named Victorian Australian of the year 2009.
Dr. Ahmed learned of the award when it was announced by the Governor of Victoria, Dr. David de Kretser, in November 2008 while Dr. Ahmed was overseas.
As Victorian recipient, Dr. Ahmed was also a nominee for 2009 Australian of the Year. He went to Canberra for the presentation of the awards, taking as his guests members of the African Think Tank and the Eritrean Community in Australia. Ms. Gayili Yunupingu Marika,, an indigenous elder from the Northern territory who is a friend and colleague of Dr. Ahmed's, was his special guest at the awards.
story and more photos here.
media release here |
Site Update at 04 March 2009
Added page on Dr. Berhan's winning Victorian Australian of the Year 2009
Added three speeches given by Dr. Berhan
Added one previously omitted Media Release
Board members added
Site Update at 20 February 2009
Site has been brought up to date by the addition of all Media Releases 6/2008 to 2/2009.
also copy of invitation to Congo seminar December 2008
Site update at 8 January 2009
added files to constitution section
added files to publications section
added board nomination form to Board section
updated Media Releases with recent files
Site update at 7 January 2009
added files to constitution section
Minor update at 1 January 2009
added media releases and article
THIS SITE WILL NOW BE UPDATED REGULARLY - KEEP VISITING FOR NEWS OF EVENTS, MEDIA RELEASES AND PUBLICATIONS |
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Self reliant, integrated, sustainable and flourishing refugee communities and community organisations in Victoria and Australia.
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The African Think Tank’s Mission is to act as the voice of refugee communities mainly the African Australians in Victoria, through:
- public advocacy in relation to key strategic issues;
- the development of policy advice, especially in regards to employment, capacity building, education, youth and health matters;
- training, advice and support to government and community organisations to ensure accessible and effective service delivery, especially in regards to settlement;
- community capacity building of African Australian communities;
- maintaining a high public profile, through effective public and media relations and the conducting of major public forums and conferences;
- contribute to effective settlement services and community development activities.
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The work of the African Think Tank will be highlighted by:
- effective collaboration with local communities, service providers, governments at all levels and individual members of the mainstream society;
- an inclusive, respectful and consultative approach to the broader African communities, regional groupings, religious and cultural groups and individuals;
- transparent and accountable governance processes with open two way communication;
- a balance between the utilisation of paid professional staff and community volunteers;
- a dedication to the
wellbeing of all people regardless of race,
religion, creed or gender.
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